Authorised by Academic Registrar, April 1996
Objectives On completion of this subject students should be able to explain how agriculture can contribute to the growth of the rest of the economy in poor countries; understand the complexity, diversity and uncertainty of third-world rural environments, and the importance of both technical and behavioural changes in these environments; recognise the possible production, distributional and social consequences of introducing modern agricultural technologies into poor rural societies; be able to assess critically the usefulness of microeconomic theory when used as a policy tool in agricultural development.
Synopsis Microeconomic theory is used to analyse the reasons for low agricultural productivity and possible means of raising productivity in poor countries; the definition of development and sustainable development; characteristics of the rural economy in poor countries; agriculture's role as a source of food, labour, capital and foreign exchange; agriculture-industry linkages; technology, culture and institutions in poor rural societies; theories of technical and institutional change; the `Green Revolution' in rural Asia as an example of technical and institutional change and its consequences.
Assessment Written (4000-word essay): 45% + Three assignments (1000 words each): 35% + Oral presentation: 10% + Class participation: 10%